Wireless electronic drive-thru system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a customer authentication and payment server;
a merchant data server, the merchant data server coupled to a public data network, the public data network coupled to the customer authentication and payment server;
a merchant network coupled to the merchant data server; and
a merchant station coupled to the merchant network, the merchant station including a communication interface to provide for adhoc wireless communication between the merchant data server and wireless communication devices of customers located within a wireless coverage area, the merchant station adapted to provide an order selection menu to the wireless communication devices to facilitate a transaction, the order selection menu comprising a text description and an image associated with at least one item on the order selection menu;
wherein at least one of the customers is located within a vehicle having a telematics control unit;
wherein a merchant representative, via the merchant station and the wireless communication interface, may communicate with the customer via the telematics control unit; and
wherein data communicated between the telematics control unit and the merchant server has an XML type data format.
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Abstract
In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a system including a customer authentication and payment server, a merchant data server, a merchant network, and a merchant station. The merchant data server is coupled to a public data network and the public data network is coupled to the customer authentication and payment server. The merchant network is coupled to the merchant data server and the merchant station. The merchant station includes a communication interface to provide for wireless communication with customers located within a wireless coverage area using an ad hoc connection.
98 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a customer authentication and payment server; a merchant data server, the merchant data server coupled to a public data network, the public data network coupled to the customer authentication and payment server; a merchant network coupled to the merchant data server; and a merchant station coupled to the merchant network, the merchant station including a communication interface to provide for adhoc wireless communication between the merchant data server and wireless communication devices of customers located within a wireless coverage area, the merchant station adapted to provide an order selection menu to the wireless communication devices to facilitate a transaction, the order selection menu comprising a text description and an image associated with at least one item on the order selection menu; wherein at least one of the customers is located within a vehicle having a telematics control unit; wherein a merchant representative, via the merchant station and the wireless communication interface, may communicate with the customer via the telematics control unit; and wherein data communicated between the telematics control unit and the merchant server has an XML type data format. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of processing wireless electronic drive-thru orders comprising:
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receiving notification at a merchant data server that a telematics control unit is detected within a wireless coverage area; communicating an order selection menu from a merchant service terminal to the telematics control unit over a wireless channel, the order selection menu comprising a text description and an image associated with at least one item on the order selection menu and video and audio announcements associated with each available item of the order selection menu; receiving an order selection from the telematics control unit, the order selection communicated via data over the wireless channel;
authenticating the use of the telematics control unit at a networked authentication server remote from the merchant service terminal; and
fulfilling the order selection received from the telematics control unit. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of placing a wireless electronic drive-thru order comprising:
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receiving a service notification at a telematics control unit located within a wireless coverage area supported by a merchant electronic drive-thru service, the telematics control unit being mobile relative to the merchant electronic drive-thru service; initiating an interactive session between the telematics control unit and a representative of the merchant electronic drive-thru service; receiving and displaying on the telematics control unit an order selection menu communicated by the merchant electronic drive-thru service over an adhoc wireless channel, the order selection menu comprising an image and a text description related to at least one item on the order selection menu; sending an order selection from the telematics control unit to the merchant electronic drive-thru service over the wireless channel using a secured connection;
receiving electronic confirmation at the telematics control unit, the electronic confirmation associated with acceptance of the order selection; and
making a payment for the order selection. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A system comprising:
- a customer authentication and payment server;
a merchant data server, the merchant data server coupled to a public data network, the public data network coupled to the customer authentication and payment server;a merchant network coupled to the merchant data server; and a merchant station coupled to the merchant network, the merchant station including a communication interface to provide for adhoc wireless communication between the merchant data server and wireless communication devices of customers located within a wireless coverage area, the merchant station adapted to provide an order selection menu to the wireless communication devices to facilitate a transaction, the order selection menu comprising a text description and an image associated with at least one item on the order selection menu; wherein at least one of the customers is located within a vehicle having a telematics control unit; wherein a merchant representative, via the merchant station and the wireless communication interface, may communicate with the customer via the telematics control unit; and wherein the merchant station includes a cordless headset for use by the merchant representative.
- a customer authentication and payment server;
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50. A system comprising:
- a customer authentication and payment server;
a merchant data server, the merchant data server coupled to a public data network, the public data network coupled to the customer authentication and payment server;a merchant network coupled to the merchant data server; and a merchant station coupled to the merchant network, the merchant station including a communication interface to provide for adhoc wireless communication between the merchant data server and wireless communication devices of customers located within a wireless coverage area, the merchant station adapted to provide an order selection menu to the wireless communication devices to facilitate a transaction, the order selection menu comprising a text description and an image associated with at least one item on the order selection menu; wherein at least one of the customers is located within a vehicle having a telematics control unit; wherein a merchant representative, via the merchant station and the wireless communication interface, may communicate with the customer via the telematics control unit; and wherein the telematics control unit is an on-board unit embedded within a dashboard area of the vehicle.
- a customer authentication and payment server;
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51. A system comprising:
- a customer authentication and payment server;
a merchant data server, the merchant data server coupled to a public data network, the public data network coupled to the customer authentication and payment server;a merchant network coupled to the merchant data server; and a merchant station coupled to the merchant network, the merchant station including a communication interface to provide for adhoc wireless communication between the merchant data server and wireless communication devices of customers located within a wireless coverage area, the merchant station adapted to provide an order selection menu to the wireless communication devices to facilitate a transaction, the order selection menu comprising a text description and an image associated with at least one item on the order selection menu; wherein at least one of the customers is located within a vehicle having a telematics control unit; wherein a merchant representative, via the merchant station and the wireless communication interface, may communicate with the customer via the telematics control unit; and wherein the telematics control unit is an offboard telematics control unit comprising a wireless device.
- a customer authentication and payment server;
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52. A method of processing wireless electronic drive-thru orders comprising:
- receiving notification at a merchant data server that a telematics control unit is detected within a wireless coverage area;
communicating an order selection menu from the merchant service terminal to the telematics control unit over a wireless channel, the order selection menu comprising a text description and an image associated with at least one item on the order selection menu; receiving an order selection from the telematics control unit, the order selection communicated via data over the wireless channel; authenticating the use of the telematics control unit at a networked authentication server remote from the merchant service terminal; and fulfilling the order selection received from the telematics control unit; wherein the networked authentication server returns identifying information associated with vehicles owned by a user to facilitate matching the vehicle with the drive-thru order at pickup or for providing a customized order menu.
- receiving notification at a merchant data server that a telematics control unit is detected within a wireless coverage area;
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53. A method of placing a wireless electronic drive-thru order comprising:
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receiving a service notification at a telematics control unit located within a wireless coverage area supported by a merchant electronic drive-thru service, the telematics control unit being mobile relative to the merchant electronic drive-thru service; receiving and displaying on the telematics control unit an order selection menu communicated by the merchant electronic drive-thru service over an adhoc wireless channel, the order selection menu comprising an image and a text description related to at least one item on the order selection menu; sending an order selection from the telematics control unit to the merchant electronic drive-thru service over the wireless channel using a secured connection; receiving electronic confirmation at the telematics control unit, the electronic confirmation associated with acceptance of the order selection; and making a payment for the order selection; wherein the order selection menu includes a video and an audio announcement associated with at least one available item of the order selection menu.
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Specification